Online multimedia crossword puzzle

ABSTRACT

A method for controlling a computer system for representing a crossword puzzle on a display includes providing descriptive fields of the crossword puzzle addressable via a keypad cursor or a pointer device for selecting a description text for display or making an entry. A descriptive field of the crossword puzzle is interactively selected so as to display the description text and/or play back an item of sound information and/or display an item of image information and/or display video information.

Priority is claimed to German patent application no. 10 2004 042 907.3, filed Sep. 1, 2004, the entire subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

The present invention relates to a method and device for an interactive multimedia game, in particular a crossword puzzle, which is designed such that it can be used with multimedia systems.

BACKGROUND

In the prior art, there are known a number of systems used for entering crossword puzzles, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,931 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,170,664.

Also known are a number of methods for bringing about a solution to a crossword puzzle, such as described in German patent document DE 198 44 254.

The publications German patent document DE 199 23 066, U.S. Pat. No. 436,973 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,942 describe solutions that allow “paper crossword puzzles” to be transferred to a (special) computer.

German patent document DE 101 56 579 describes input aids, in particular in the form of handwriting recognition of individual letters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and device for representing a crossword puzzle on a display, allowing intuitive use, especially on small mobile computers, so that user prompting is simplified and the system requirements are reduced.

The present invention provides a method for controlling a computer system for representing a crossword puzzle on a display, the fields of the crossword puzzle being designed to be interactive. The descriptive fields can be selected interactively, whereby a description text is displayed and/or an item of sound information is played back and/or an item of image information is displayed and/or items of video information are displayed. The fields are addressable via a keypad cursor or a pointer device in order to be selected for display of the description or to make an entry.

The computer may be a mobile terminal device which preferably has a network interface, such as a cellular phone, a PDA, or a smart phone.

In a further embodiment, in small displays, the field in which the keypad cursor or the pointer device is placed is displayed enlarged, it being preferred to display the content as well as the descriptive digital information. Thus, a digital zoom function occurs.

Thus, in the case of input fields, for example, it is possible to display an input matrix of letters which is selectable using the keypad cursor or the pointer device. This input matrix can already limit the letters to be selected.

The solution word can also be filled in automatically. To this end, the letters determining the solution word are automatically displayed in the solution word without a transfer taking place. This solution can then be sent online over a network, and a prize can be provided as digital data, preferably also online.

Thus, the prize can be provided in the form of an item of digital sound and/or video information. The prize can be forwarded by SMS or MMS.

To allow the game to be continued at a later point in time, it is possible to store digital information about the status for later continuation, preferably with an identity login. This data describes the actions performed up to that point. Storage can be performed both locally and on the server.

The crossword puzzle represents an item of digital information that can be loaded over the Internet or intranet and which is preferably stored in the form of Java, Javascript, html, xhtml, net, so that it can be executed by the computer; the game logic being executed, either completely, partially, or not at all, on the computer, or alternatively on a network server.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example of a crossword puzzle as known from the prior art.

FIG. 2 illustrates an application of the method of the present invention, in which a descriptive field is displayed larger.

FIG. 3 illustrates an application of the method of the present invention, in which a descriptive field is displayed as a video.

FIG. 4 shows an application of the method of the present invention, in which a selection of letters is offered for the data to be input.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a crossword puzzle as is known, but represented on a digital system. This allows the puzzle to be launched online, for example, as a Java application.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, all fields are interactive, i.e., they are not a scanned copy. The descriptive fields can be addressed via the cursor keys and activated by a mouse click. This is shown in FIG. 2, which illustrates an activation.

In the process, either the description text is set off (displayed as a box), or else WAV files, images and/or video clips may be launched. Examples: “Who sang this song . . . , indicate the last name” (FIG. 3), or “In which city is this building located,” is displayed.

Fields to be filled in can be addressed via the cursor keys and activated by a mouse click. Here, further help is provided by an “input aid”. A matrix of, for example, 16 letters is displayed, from which the presumably correct letter can be selected (FIG. 4).

The solution word is determined automatically (the relevant fill-in fields are, for example, highlighted in color), but may also be filled in manually, as the case may be. Transmission of the solution can be done by pressing a button (checking may be performed within the program).

If the solution is correct, the customer gets an “instant prize” in the form of an “attractive multimedia file” (see below). One hook could be the “instant prize”, for example, a video clip (e.g., 3 seconds) of a VIP or of an important event, as in “Win a smile from Britney Spears” (or a wink from Robbie Williams).

In an embodiment, it is possible to forward the “prize” to friends by MMS, with some advertising added.

In an embodiment, the URL of the puzzle is reachable over the Internet, for example, via T-Zones, or to be sent via advertising SMS. 

1. A method for controlling a computer system for representing a crossword puzzle on a display, the method comprising: providing descriptive fields of the crossword puzzle addressable via at least one of a keypad cursor and a pointer device so as to at least one of select a description text for display and make an entry; and interactively selecting a descriptive field of the crossword puzzle so as to at least one of display the description text, play back an item of sound information, display an item of image information, and display video information.
 2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the interactively selecting is performed so as to display a selected descriptive field in an enlarged manner.
 3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the interactively selecting is performed so as to display a content of the selected descriptive field.
 4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising displaying an input matrix of letters selectable using at least one of the keypad cursor and the pointer device.
 5. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising filling in the solution word automatically.
 6. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising sending a solution online over a network.
 7. The method as recited in claim 6 further comprising providing a prize in digital form.
 8. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising providing a prize in a form of an item of at least one of digital sound and video information.
 9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the providing the prize is performed by SMS or MMS.
 10. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising storing digital status information for later continuation of the interactively selecting.
 11. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising performing the later continuation using an identity login.
 12. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the computer system includes a mobile terminal device.
 13. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the mobile terminal device includes a network interface.
 14. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the mobile terminal device includes at least one of a cellular phone, a PDA and a smart phone.
 15. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the crossword puzzle represents items of digital information loadable over an internet or intranet.
 16. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the items of digital information are stored in a form of at least one of Java, Javascript, html, xhtml and net so as to be executable by the computer system, a game logic of the crossword puzzle being at least partially executable on at least one of the computer system and a network server.
 17. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable process steps operative to perform a method for controlling a computer system for representing a crossword puzzle on a display, the method comprising: providing descriptive fields of the crossword puzzle addressable via at least one of a keypad cursor and a pointer device so as to at least one of select a description text for display and make an entry; and interactively selecting a descriptive field of the crossword puzzle so as to at least one of display the description text, play back an item of sound information, display an item of image information, and display video information.
 18. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 17 wherein the interactively selecting is performed so as to display a selected descriptive field in an enlarged manner.
 19. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 1 further comprising displaying an input matrix of letters selectable using at least one of the keypad cursor and the pointer device.
 20. A computer system for representing a crossword puzzle, the computer system comprising: a display; and a processing device configured to perform a method for representing the crossword puzzle on the display, the method comprising: providing descriptive fields of the crossword puzzle addressable via at least one of a keypad cursor and a pointer device so as to at least one of select a description text for display and make an entry; and interactively selecting a descriptive field of the crossword puzzle so as to at least one of display the description text, play back an item of sound information, display an item of image information, and display video information. 